DUBLIN, Ohio – Keiser (Fla.) sophomore Iver Sokhan-Sanj has been named the 2026 recipient of the Jack Nicklaus Award presented by Workday, recognizing the 2025-26 NAIA Men's Golf National Player of the Year. The award was presented Sunday by golf legend Jack Nicklaus during a special press conference held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday.

Sokhan-Sanj, from Lørenskog, Norway, becomes the third player in Keiser program history to earn the prestigious honor, joining Isac Wallin (2024) and Jakob Stavang Stubhaug (2022). He enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in the NAIA, earning First-Team All-America, PING All-South Region, and First-Team All-Sun Conference recognition. He recorded five top-three finishes and captured four tournament victories during the 2025-26 campaign.

Among his accomplishments, Sokhan-Sanj claimed the Sun Conference Championship on April 21, winning by one stroke with a six-under-par 207 (71-67-69). He also earned victories at the Music City Classic, Kona Ice Keiser Kup, and Jupiter Collegiate Invitational. At the Music City Classic, he posted a program-record nine-under-par 63 en route to a tournament-winning score of 15-under 201.

Sokhan-Sanj finished the season with a 71.71 scoring average, recording 10 rounds in the 60s and 16 rounds at par or better. He helped guide the Seahawks to six team victories and a second consecutive Sun Conference championship.

The Jack Nicklaus Award, established in 1988, is presented annually to the National Player of the Year across multiple levels of collegiate golf, including the NAIA. Nicklaus, a former NCAA champion at Ohio State, helped inspire and create the award, which remains one of the sport's highest individual honors.

Recent NAIA Jack Nicklaus Award Recipients

• 2026 – Iver Sokhan-Sanj, Keiser
• 2025 – Jack Whaley, Dalton State (Ga.)
• 2024 – Isac Wallin, Keiser  
• 2023 – Easton Johnson, The Master's (Calif.)
• 2022 – Jakob Stavang Stubhaug, Keiser